LISTEN: Luke Bryan’s new EP, “Here’s to the Farmer”

By C. Murph | Monday Monday Staff - 2016-10-11

Bryan released his EP, “Here’s to the Farmer” in conjunction with his Farm Tour (photo from www.rollingstone.com)

In connection with his Farm Tour, Luke Bryan released an EP titled “Here’s to the Farmer.” It has done just fine, debuting at No. 1 on the Billboard country albums chart. It sold more than 34,000 copies. On Billboard’s all-genre top 200 chart, it hit No. 4.

This EP is a shout-out to both farm life and his own roots as the son of a peanut farmer.

“What’s interesting is that a lot of that is what the start of my career was based on, and I think some of my fans from the way back will appreciate, you’ll be able to hear some of that that kind of sounds like my early record stuff,” says Bryan, according to Sounds Like Nashville.

He says the Spring Break albums were teaching moments for him, and he learned how to write songs based off of a certain time.

“I learned a lot doing the Spring Break albums through the years,” he says. “So with Farm Tour album, it’s just to have those little nuances of farm-related things. Some of ‘em obviously scream more farm stuff than the others, but at the end of the day, it’s just all about (A) is it a great song that we feel like is worthy of making this EP? And (B) does it kind of go along with that rural [theme]? I kinda think Farm Tours will always have that ruralness, that rural theme.”

This is Bryan’s eighth time doing the Farm Tour, where some of the ticket proceeds go back into farming communities to help kids get scholarships. This year, however, the tour got off to a bumpy start: Hurricane Matthew caused the cancellation of the opening concert and Bryan’s broken collarbone almost ruining the second show at Maple Lane Farms in Greenback, Tennessee.

But Bryan was in good spirits at that concert.

“I had a little mishap today, Tennessee,” he told the crowd. “I was riding a bike and I broke my damn collarbone. Not good. I got me a souvenir Blount Memorial Hospital bracelet.”

“You know what the best thing for a broken bone is? Whiskey. Ain’t that right? Or some East Tennessee moonshine.”

I’m sure everybody, including Bryan himself, is hoping for smooth riding from here on out until the last show on October 15 in Illinois.

“Here’s to the Farmer” tracklisting:

Tracklisting for Luke Bryan’s “Here’s to the Farmer” (via lukebryan.com)

Bryan has announced the tracklisting for “Here’s to the Farmer” — check it out below along with each associated video!

1. I Do All My Dreamin’ There

2. Here’s To The Farmer

3. Love Me In A Field

4. You Look Like Rain

5. Southern Gentlemen

Upcoming Farm Tour dates:

Make sure to check these out and see if he’s coming to your community!